Cananga odorata: fragrant flowers and fruits

Ylang-ylang, or Cananga odorata, grows as a tall evergreen tree. It belongs to the Annonaceae family. This tree thrives in the warm lands of Southeast Asia. You can find it in Burma, the Philippines, and Indonesia, like Kalimantan and Java. People value ylang-ylang for its sweet-smelling flowers and fruits. It serves well as a landscape plant and brings economic value.

The plant's main use comes from its essential oils. Perfume makers love these oils. Ylang-ylang adds a special touch to oriental and floral scents. Its aroma is unique and captivating. Aromatherapy and cosmetics also use ylang-ylang. Sometimes, food makers add its extracts to flavors and sweet creams.

Ylang-ylang can reach 10 to 40 meters in height. Its trunk grows thick, up to 75 cm across. The tree bark feels smooth and appears light gray or silvery. Leaves grow in an oval shape, about 13 to 49 cm long and 4 to 10 cm wide. They grow one after the other on the tree branches.

The flowers stand out as a beautiful part of the ylang-ylang. They form in clusters called racemose inflorescences. Each flower measures 5 to 7.5 cm across. The flower has three sepals and six petals. On the inside, near the base, the petals show purple-brown spots. This color mix makes the flowers look striking.

Ylang-ylang fruits grow as juicy multi-leaflets. As they ripen, the fruits turn blackish. The fruit pulp has a yellow color.